Professor Lucy Green
Trustee and Chair of Communities Committee

I always look forward to reading Physiology News (PN) magazine. From the scientific feature articles to the stories about the achievements of our members, the magazine embodies the sense of community that makes The Physiological Society feel like a family.

The magazine has been through several periods of change over its lifetime and we are now entering another. Later this year PN will be re-launched as a new, online magazine.

Why are we going online?

In an era where digital transformation shapes every facet of our lives, our new magazine marks a significant stride towards meeting the needs of our global community of physiologists. Over the last few years, there has been a huge increase in members reading our news features online. We know that, particularly as working patterns have shifted post pandemic, members value the flexibility of being able to access the magazine from anywhere around the globe.

Sustainability is another key motivator. Reducing the carbon footprint associated with physical print production and distribution is a responsible step forward. The new magazine will eliminate the need for paper, ink, and physical delivery, aligning with our drive to reduce our impact on the environment and support efforts to tackle climate change. It also allows us to reduce the costs associated with printing and delivery, which enables us to focus our resources on supporting our members.

What to expect

The new PN will launch from a brand new online media platform on our website, which provides a broader range of content types and incorporates interactive features to enrich the reader’s experience.

The magazine will provide a clear voice for our members, highlighting achievements and supporting the community. We will feature interviews with physiologists from across the world, highlighting their engaging science as well as their experiences and stories. Each issue will be themed around a topic, broad enough to allow us to explore it from a wide range of physiological perspectives. We will also be able to link these to other Society activity, such as our conference programme and our journals.

The relaunched PN will be released three times a year and members will have exclusive access to the latest issue using our member area on our website. The existing PN archive is remaining in place, so you will always be able to access our back catalogue of issues.

Member-led

As a membership Society, everything we do is to support physiologists and to advance the discipline of physiology. Our new magazine will put members right at the heart in generating scientific and news content. The PN Advisory Group, made up of members, has a wealth of experience and expertise to shape the magazine and we are always looking for members to engage with us directly.

Looking ahead

The first issue of our new PN will launch in the autumn. I know that, for some, there will be a degree of trepidation about these changes, particularly the move to online only. This speaks to the important role The Society plays in the lives of our members: you care about The Society’s future direction and value PN as part of this. I share this view and, as a Trustee, I am determined to ensure the new PN meets the needs of the moment. That requires us to be more environmentally and financially sustainable while embracing new forms of media to deliver a magazine that engages readers and speaks for our community. I look forward to hearing your views later in the year.

I would like to finish by thanking all those who have been part of PN so far. Over the last few years the magazine has been steered by Keith Siew as Scientific Editor, and his enthusiasm and commitment to PN has driven it forward. From our many authors and contributors, to the dedicated Editorial Board, it is truly a team effort.

Most of all, thank you to our members who make PN so much more than just a magazine. It’s at the heart of our community, and I can’t wait for you to see the next chapter.